Page 100 of Behind the Shadows

“Well, I’m a psychiatrist now. I’ve rebuilt my life, and I’m in love with Kip.”If I still have a job since Kip called in without notice to the office and hospital.Maybe that would help her understand that I wasn’t going anywhere.

“I know. I saw how the two of you looked at each other before he left. Plus, Kip has never been with just one woman. His work is demanding, so he kept it to a no-strings-attached policy. Clearly that’s changed.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “What about you?” I wasn’t sure she would open up to me much, but I wanted to try.

“I used to work for an attorney before I met Death, Kip, and Dope. I mentioned that when we met. Have you heard about the Horizon Society?” She stretched her arm over the back of the couch.

“Kip has told me about it. I think it’s amazing work. Maybe someday I can help.”

“It definitely serves multiple purposes. Has he told you the another purpose?”

“I’m not sure.”

Ella grew silent as if she were debating whether to tell me or not. “The men we help families escape from are dangerous and evil. When families are chosen, the men are turned over to Death who then has someone to … eliminate.”

Holy shit. I couldn’t believe she trusted me with that. We were gaining ground.

“Oh, Kip said he gave a serial killer some men to kill, but he didn’t mention it was from the society or who killed them.” I should have been at least a little bit surprised, but it all made sense. Not much seemed to rattle me anymore, either. Not after what I’d lived through years ago and recently. Maybe the fact that I was a serial killer’s daughter had something to do with it. A lack of emotions, but not about everything, only the monsters. “It’s actually brilliant if you ask me. At least they can’t come back after the women and kids to hurt them again.”

“You seem pretty calm about it.”

I laughed. “Ella, if you knew who my father was, it might make more sense. It seems I’m comfortable killing someone when I need to. What Kip does hasn’t ever bothered me. I love and respect him for having the guts to take care of the families and children.”

Ella tilted her head, her dark hair flowing over her shoulder. “Who’s your father?”

Suddenly uncomfortable, I squirmed in my seat like a little kid.

“I don’t remember him, but Lily, Kip’s mother, told me who he was.”

Ella grinned. “And you believe her? She’s known for taking a strand of truth and weaving a new story around it to manipulate people.”

“I haven’t had time to verify it yet, but something in my gut tells me she wasn’t lying to me.” It would be nice to have verification, though.

Ella reached for her back pocket and produced her phone. “I can have Dope look into it for you. What exactly did Lily tell you?”

I watched Ella’s expression for any changes as I spoke. “Apparently he’s a notorious serial killer.”

Ella didn’t even blink as she waited for me to continue. When I didn’t, she said, “There are a lot of killers out there. What’s his name?”

I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry and tight. “No one else knows except Kip, and we’ve been dealing with his mother and not had time to verify all the details yet.”

Ella motioned for me to continue.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed. I reached for it on the coffee table, thumbed the screen, and read Kip’s message.

She’s dead.

Two words. That was it. No name. No need.

But I knew exactly who he meant.

A slow smile curved my lips. I looked up at Ella, met her stare, and whispered like it was a prayer laced in gasoline.

“Lily’s dead.”

Let the bitch rot in hell.

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